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British Trade Unionism 1979-89: Change, Continuity and Contradictions

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  • John Kelly

    (Dept. of Industrial Relations London School of Economics)

Abstract

The paper begins by briefly documenting many of the changes that have occurred in the 1980s in union membership, occupational structure, strikes, etc. and sets out to compare two interpretations: (i) that these represent a secular transformation towards a new industrial relations, (ii) that they constitute a largely cyclical phenomenon. Whilst there are clearly elements of both modes of change, it is argued that in terms of core elements of industrial relations - the power, interests and relations between the parties - the cyclical hypothesis is much nearer the truth. The paper uses Batstone's (1988) model of power resources to analyse the impact of changes and trends in labour markets, product markets, employer and union strategies, production systems and worker attitudes. In some cases, e.g. worker attitudes, there has been little basic change; in others, e.g. production systems, the effects have been variable; in others again, e.g. state and employer strategies, the effects have sometimes been the opposite of those intended. The paper ends by looking at several explanations for these results.

Suggested Citation

  • John Kelly, 1990. "British Trade Unionism 1979-89: Change, Continuity and Contradictions," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 4(5), pages 29-65, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:4:y:1990:i:5:p:29-65
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    Cited by:

    1. Stephen Dunn, 1993. "From Donovan to … Wherever," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 31(2), pages 169-187, June.
    2. Jane Wills, 1996. "Uneven Reserves: Geographies of Banking Trade Unionism," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(4), pages 359-372.
    3. Jeremy Waddington, 1992. "Trade Union Membership in Britain, 1980–1987: Unemployment and Restructuring," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 30(2), pages 287-324, June.
    4. Jeremy Waddington & Allan Kerr, 2009. "Transforming a Trade Union? An Assessment of the Introduction of an Organizing Initiative," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 47(1), pages 27-54, March.
    5. Susan Hayter, 2011. "Introduction," Chapters, in: Susan Hayter (ed.), The Role of Collective Bargaining in the Global Economy, chapter 1, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    6. Jeremy Waddington & Allan Kerr, 2015. "Joining UNISON: does the reform of a union organising strategy change how members perceive their recruitment?," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(3), pages 187-207, May.
    7. Paul Smith & Gary Morton, 1993. "Union Exclusion and the Decollectivization of Industrial Relations in Contemporary Britain," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 31(1), pages 97-114, March.

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